Pacific Coast

Another of Ecuador's worlds. Take the Ruta del Sol from Guayaquil to sleepy fishing villages, wild Pacific beaches, whales and wildlife of the Isla de la Plata , and traditional communities with links deep in the past.

from £1220

Customer rating 100%

Outline

'Pacific Coast'

What makes this trip special?

Life by the sea

Puerto Lopez - Ruta del Sol

Ecuador's pacific coast is lined with sleepy fishing villages, wild pacific beaches and stunning nature reserves. Stay at your choice of hotel in the Puerto Lopez region.

Lush forest, indigenous communities & wild pacific coast

Puerto Lopez - Pacific Coast

From Machalilla National Park, a jewel of differing habitats, to the indigenous Manteno community of Agua Blanca through to the long sweeping bay of Los Frailes the Pacific Coastline is an exciting visit.

Ecuador's other wildlife paradise

Isla de la Plata

9km offshore, Isla de la Plata is home to colonies of boobies, sea lions, fur seals and from June - October whales are often spotted in the surrounding waters.

Itinerary

  • Day      Overnight
  • 1 Puerto Lopez
  • 2 Puerto Lopez
  • 2 Machalilla NP
  • 3 Isla de la Plata
  • 3 Puerto Lopez
  • 4 Puerto Lopez
  • 5 Guayaquil
  • For the detail of each day click the ‘Day-by-day’ tab above.

Day-by-day itinerary for 'Pacific Coast'

DAY 1

Arrive in Guayaquil, drive to Puerto Lopez

You are met on arrival at Guayaquil airport, which has international and domestic connections, or collected from your hotel in the city, by a Spanish speaking driver and transferred to your choice of hotel in the Puerto López region at the northern end of the Ruta del Sol for 4 nights. With an early start, your driver can include a number of stops en route. There are small archaeological sites, a nature reserve at Cerro Blanco, and several birding sites. Stop for lunch at Hostería Farallón Dillon, a quirky nautical theme restaurant-cum-antiques barn. Hotel Atamari offers spacious well appointed cabins set around a cliff-skirted promontory, with wonderful views for whale-watchers and sunset-gazers. There is a good sized swimming pool and a rocky path descends to a secluded beach at Ayampe. Mantaraya Lodge is a well-run small hotel set in the hills near Puerto López. Its colourful adobe-style buildings are set around a lovely pool. Hostería Mandala, right on the sands in Puerto López, is a low-key barefoot eco-style hotel with thatched cabins in well-tended gardens.

DAY 2
BLD

Machalilla NP

A full day visit to Machalilla National Park. Visit the indigenous village of Agua Blanca where a guide from the village will show you around and introduce you to their still traditional way of life. A visit to the archaeological museum is also included. In the afternoon visit Los Frailes beach within the park.

DAY 3
BLD

Isla de Plata

Today you make a full day visit to Isla de la Plata aboard one of the twin-engined motor boats that ply this route. This is a shared boat excursion. Pelicans and other sea birds can be seen during the 1½hr crossing; between June and September there is a very good chance of whales and dolphins. A local guide joins you for a tour of the island amid colonies of boobies and frigatebirds, with other species depending on the season.

DAY 4
BLD

Free

Free day which you might spend by the hotel pool, or at a local beach. Perhaps take a local taxi to visit the Presley Norton archaeological museum and the small museum of Río Chico. In season, whale-watching is possible from the shore.

DAY 5
B

Return to Guayaquil

Morning private transfer with Spanish speaking driver back to Guayaquil for onward connections in the afternoon.

Guide prices for 'Pacific Coast'

options based on all year low season mid season high season peak season other season
Mantaraya Lodge 2 people sharing £1,220
Hosteria Mandala 2 people sharing £1,320
Prices are per person and include:
  • all travel in Ecuador
  • all accommodation
  • meals as indicated B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner
  • all excursions as described
Prices do not include:
  • international flights
  • travel insurance
  • airport and departure taxes
  • items of a personal nature such as drinks, tips, laundry, etc
  • any optional excursions you may buy locally

Customer reviews for 'Pacific Coast'

Recent reviews are shown here from holidays based on this initial design. In each case the itinerary may have been modified (a little or a lot) to suit the individual traveller.

Average customer rating 100%

Seasonal information for 'Pacific Coast'

Along this route in January

Day Location Max °C Monthly rainfall
1 Puerto Lopez 29°C 52mm
2 Puerto Lopez 29°C 52mm
2 Machalilla NP 29°C 55mm
3 Isla de la Plata 29°C 33mm
3 Puerto Lopez 29°C 52mm
4 Puerto Lopez 29°C 52mm
5 Guayaquil 31°C 172mm

Typical weather for January

Max °C figures are the average daily maximum temperatures for the month. Rainfall is the average precipitation for the month.

Hotels for 'Pacific Coast'

Days 1 - 4

Atamari

Ayampe

Hotel Atamari offers spacious well appointed cabins set around a cliff-skirted promontory, with wonderful views for whale-watchers and sunset-gazers. There is a good sized swimming pool and a steep rocky path descends to a secluded beach at Ayampe. Additional facilities include two restaurants (one interior with capacity for 30 people and another outside with capacity for 60 people), bar with terrace and viewpoint, two convention rooms. There is a good chance of seeing whales from June-September.

Pool area